Verstappen jokes he may move aside for Robin Raikkonen

Max Verstappen has joked he may eventually have to step aside from his Red Bull seat to make room for the team's newest junior prospect, 11-year-old Robin Raikkonen. The son of 2007 F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen officially joined the Red Bull Junior Team this week, and Verstappen, who signed a contract extension through 2030, quipped that the youngster might one day take his place.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's junior programme has a proven track record of producing F1 talent, from Sebastian Vettel to Verstappen himself. The signing of Robin Raikkonen signals the team's long-term investment in the next generation, while Verstappen's lighthearted comment underscores his confidence in his own future — and the depth of Red Bull's driver pipeline.

The details:

• Verstappen confirmed he had spoken with the Raikkonen family before the deal was public, having met them at the Italian Grand Prix.
• "I knew that he was signed already. It's good to see," he told Motorsport.com and other media ahead of the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.
• When reminded he would likely be retired by the time Robin is ready for F1, Verstappen joked: "Maybe, maybe not. I guess eventually they also need a seat for him in the team. So then, yeah, maybe I'll move aside."
• The Dutchman recently extended his Red Bull contract until the end of 2030, ending speculation about a move to Mercedes or McLaren.

What's next:

Robin Raikkonen is currently building his career in European karting, with a long road ahead before any F1 consideration. For now, Verstappen remains firmly in place at Red Bull, but the arrival of a Raikkonen name in the junior ranks adds an intriguing subplot to the team's future.